Breaking through: Uy coasts to easy win

Daniella Uy looks forward to more pro wins. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

SILANG, CAVITE—Having done her time and putting the work in, Daniella Uy on Friday finally hit paydirt, with a closing three-over-74 enough to give her a five-shot win over Chihiro Ikeda in the P750,000 ICTSI Riviera Ladies Challenge for her maiden pro win.

Not even a cluster of bogeys after a birdie-birdie run from No. 3 could stymie Uy’s victory march as Ikeda and the rest failed to mount a major challenge, all succumbing to the buffeting winds and tricky greens of the Langer layout as the former Junior World champion cruised to a trouble-free victory.

“I’m super happy,” said Uy after holing out with four pars for a 36-38 to end a long quest for a pro diadem worth P116,250. “It was my first win in seven years and I’m looking forward for more [wins].”

With a 220 total at the hazard-laden par-71 layout, Uy clinched the crown in the other half of the two-leg Riviera swing following Chanelle Avaricio’s equally imposing maiden triumph (seven strokes) at the Couples course last week.

Ikeda, three shots behind after 36 holes, tried to put the pressure on Uy with a birdie on the first hole, but bogeyed the next two and the latter countered with back-to-back birdies from No. 3 to go up by six, a lead that was never seriously threatened the rest of the way.

Ikeda fumbled with six bogeys and ended up with a 76 but still finished second for the third straight tournament with a 225 and received P82,500. Avaricio likewise wound up with a bogey-riddled 76 to place third with a 227.

Harmie Constantino, the Aoki leg champion, hardly recovered from a disastrous 81 with a 77 as she settled for fourth at 228.